Confectionery-wrapping machine



June 30, 1925.

F. F. PEASE 'CONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1921 4sheets-Sheet 1 VIIXCD\ June 30, 1925.

F. F. PEASE CONFECTI ONERY WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1925. 1,544,171

F. F. PEASE GONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 5 June 30, 1925.

F. F. PEASE CONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJune 21 Patented June 30, 1925.

UNlTED STATES PATENT orrlce.

FRED FORREST PEASE, OF EAST BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO F. IE.

PEASE INC., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED FORREST PEASE, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Braintree, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inConfectionery-Wrapping Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The present invention relates to machines for handling and wrappingarticles and more particularly to machines of this character adapted forwrapping candy.

Large quantities of candy known as suckers and lollypops are manufactured and sold and it is the object of the present invention toprovide anew and improved type of machine for handling and for wrapping this formof candy neatly and at a high rate of speed.

-VVith this object in view one feature of the present inventioncontemplates the provision of a forming plate through which,

the article to be wrapped is passed, this plate having a plurality offingers which cooperate to lay the wrapper smoothly about the articlewithout liability of tearing or breaking the wrapper. According to thepresent invention forming plates for different sized suckers are madeinterchangeable and are mounted in such a manner that they may bereadily removed and replaced by others with a minimum expenditure oftime and labor.

A further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of aplurality'of wiper fingers which are adapted to engage with the wrapperafter it has been folded onto the candy and wrapping the projecting endsof the wrapper closely about the handle or stick on which the candy isformed.

Another feature of the invention contemplates the provision of improvedmechanism for automatically feeding the wrap per in predeterminedlengths into a position where it may be engaged by the article andfolded thereover.

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novelfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts designed to insure theautomatic handling and delivery Application filed June 21, 1921. SerialNo. 479,411.

of the articles of confection and the wrappers to and from the wrappingmechanism. In connection with the foregoing features it should beunderstood by those skilled in the art that certain of the features ofconstruction are applicable to a variety of articles which it is desiredto wrap quickly and uniformly and, accordingly, the present invention asto these features-is notlimited to the type ofmachine disclosed in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1represents a side elevation, partly in section of a machine for handlingand wrapping candy; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating a part of themechanism for feeding candy successively to the wrapping mechanism; Fig.3 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is adetail illustrating a section of the centering device, forming plate,and Wiper fingers for folding the Wrapper about the candy; Fig. 5 is adetail illustrating the clutch for engaging the handle during thewrapping operation; Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating a top plan view ofthe forming plate and certain of the cooperating parts; Fig. 7 is adetail illustrating a plan View of the forming plate; Fig. 8 is a detailillustrating a plan view of the wiper fingers; Fig. 9 is a detailillustrating a section of the mechanism for automatically severing thedesired length of wrapping paper; Fig. 10 is a detail illustrating aside elevation of the mechanism forserving the wrapping paperautomatically; Fig. 11 is a detail illustrating a top plan view of thecentering chute for the candy; Fig. 12 is a detail illustrating a planView of the fingers for centering the candy withrelation to thetraveling plunger; and Fig. 13 is a detail illustrating a plan view ofthe wrapper en gaging rolls for holding the wrapper during the operationof the wiper fingers.

According to the present invention, as disclosed in the drawings,lollypops or similar articles are successively fed by a conveyor to apositioning member which controls and centers the articles with relationto the wrapping mechanism. Thereafter the lollypop when so positioned ispositively engaged and thrust downwardly through a forming plate uponwhich a wrapper of the desired size is placed. The movement of thelollypop through the forming plate causes'the Wrapper to be foldedsmoothly and uniformly about the candy without liability of tearing orbreaking. During the continued 3 downward movement of the lollypop withthe wrapper folded thereabout the candy passes within a series ofrevolving wiper fingers which are moved inwardly by automatic mechanismto engage with the projecting ends of the wrapper and close these endsinwardly about the projecting handle or stick. At the completion of thismovement the articles are discharged from the machine and into anyconveniently located receptacle.

Upon referring to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the lollypops or otherarticles are initially deposited upon a conveyor indicated at 10 whichconsists of a series of links 12 each having a depression 13 shaped toreceive and hold the candy indicated at ll. This conveyor chain at oneend passes over a pulley consisting of two disks 15 and 16 connected bytransverse members 18 which engage between the links 12 to feed theconveyor chain as indicated. The conveyor chain is operated in timedrelation to the wrapping mechanism in order to deliver successivelollypops to the wrapping mechanism at predetermined intervals. To thisend the driving pulley is mounted upon a shaft 20 provided with a spurgear 22 which meshes with a driving gear 23 mounted upon a shaft 24 witha driving ratchet indicated at 26. The driving ratchet is operatedintermittently and in timed relation with a plunger 30 which controlsthe movements of the lollypop through the wrapping mechanism. Thisplunger, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, has a collar 32 attachedadjacent to the upper end which is connected to a link 33 having itsopposite end pivoted upon the shaft 24. This link 33 carries anoperating pawl 35 which engages with notched recesses 36 formed in theperiphery of the ratchet disk 26 to advance the latter, together withthe conveyor chain, intermittently. It will be evident from aninspection of the drawings that each advancing movement of the ratchetdisk 26 advances the conveyor pulley through one-sixth of a revolution,which movement is sufiicient to bring successive supporting links 12into the inclined position of delivery indicated in Fig. 1. Thelollypops are successively delivered from the conveyor chain, when therespective supporting links reach the delivery position shown, into achute 40 shown more particularly in Fig. 4. The chute 40 comprises twooppositely inclined troughs 41 and 43 which are secured upon thestationary arm 42 and cooperate to deliver the candy in substantiallythe proper relation to the wrapping mechanism. After being dischargedfrom the lower end of the chute 10, the lollypop is accurately centeredby a plurality of yielding centering fingers, as shown in Figs. 4 and 12particularly. These centering lingers comprise essentially overlyingdisks 44 and 45 of leather or similar material which have their inneredges scalloped or serrated, as indicated in the drawings, to provide aseries of overlapping fingers 46 which encompass a relatively smallcentral opening. The outer edges of the leather disks 44 and 45 areclamped between metallic holding rings 200 and 201 which are supportedupon a plurality of standards 203. Interposed between the metallic ringsand the edges of the disks are rings 205 of felt, or similar material.The lowermost ring 205 is in addition provided with inwardly extending"curved lips 206, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12, which form anadditional support for the lowermost leather disk 45 and serve to aid inthe movement of the fingers back to normal position after the lollypophas passed therethrough. The combination of the leather and felt disksin this manner is quite important as it is necessary to permit thepassage of the lollypop therebetween without substantial impedance andto thereafter close about the handle of the lollypop'to center thelatter with relation to the holding clutch. Inasmuch as the movement ofthe lollypop through the machine is quite rapid, it is necessary thatthis snap-back of the centering fingers should'take place without anyloss of time after the large end of the lollypop has passedtherethrough. In order to permit the downward movement of the plungersupport carrying the lollypop through the centering fingers, the metalrings supporting the leather disks are cut away as shown at 210 topermit the passage of a supporting arm downwardly therethrough. Afterbeing discharged downwardly through the centering fingers, the large endof the lollypop is engaged and held in central position between a seriesof fingers 50 which are loosely pivoted at 51 upon a frame 54: and arenormally moved inwardly to yieldingly engage the large end of thelollypop therebetween by light springs 55, as shown in Fig. 1.Immediately after the lollypop has been dropped into the position shownin which it is centered by the fingers 50 with the handle or stickprojecting upwardly, a clutch member 60 is moved downwardly to engageand grip the upper end of the handle. This clutch member, as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 5, comprises cooperating pivoted clutch dogs 62 and63 between which the handle is thrust upwardly by the downward movementof v3, this arm together with the the clutch, these members serving togri the handle in such a .manner that the lollypop is firmly held duringthe continued advancing movement of the clutch. The clutch member 60 is'provided with a threaded stem 65 which is connected to the outer end ofan arm 66 extending laterally from the collar 32, as indicated in Fig.collar being moved in accordance with the movements of the operatingplunger 30. The threaded stem 65 of the clutch head is enclosed at itsupper portion by a sleeve 67 After the clutch has engaged with thehandle of the lollypop the continued. downward movement of the carriermechanism passes the lollypop through a wrapper forming plate. To thisend a forming plate indicated at 70 is located in the path of thelollypop and is provided witlr'an opening in the central portion throughwhich the lollypop may pass. This forming plate is provided with aseries of downwardly projecting yielding fingers 7 2 which are separatedfrom one another by elongated openings 7 5, as indicated clearly in Fi7. When the lollypop is thrust throng the substan tially rectangularopening. encompassed by the fingers 72, carrying with it a wrapper whichhas been previously laid upon the top of the forming plate, the wrapperis neatly and smoothy folded about the body of the lollypop withoutbreaking or tearing. The particular arrangement of the yielding fingersseparated from one another by the openings is of great importance insecuring this smooth enveloping of the article as the yeilding fingerssmoothly press the wrapper against the faces of the article while theopenings 75 permit the folding of the wrapper without liability oftearing or breaking. As will be clearly observed fromv an inspection ofFig. 4 the forming plate is of circular form and is mounted in asupporting ring secured to the machine frame in any desired manner. Theforming plate lies within an annular recess 81 formed in the upper faceof the ring, and when it is desired to wrap articles of different shapeor size, the forming plate may be readily removed and replaced by onehaving the desired size or shape of opening. In order to facilitate thisinterchange of forming plates the ring 80 is provided with a hub 82which is clamped by a set screw 83 to a bearing member 128 projectingupwardly from the machine frame. It will be observed that by looseningthe set screw the ring and forming plate carried therein may be swunglaterally into a position where a new forming plate may be readilyinserted.

' After the passage of the lollypop or similar article through theforming plate the wrapper is caused to envelop the article in wrapperand avoid the necessity of tying the ends of the wrapper. of thewrapping operation is conveniently accomplished in the present inventionby a series of wiper fingers which are adapted to revolve about thehandle and wra This completion The wiper fingers 90 are provided withcurved wiping faces 92 and are pivoted at their outer ends 93 upon arevolving support 94, which, as shown clearly in Fig. 4,- is in the formof a cup or bowl mounted upon anti-frictionsbearings 95 for rotationwithin a housing 96. During the rotation of the support 94 the innerends of the wiper fingers are normally thrown out under the action ofcentrifugal force, permitting the large end of the lollypop to passfreely therethrough. Inorder to cause these wiping fingers toautomatically engage with the Wrapper and wind it about the stick afterthe end of the lollypop has passed therethrough, mechanism is providedfor automatically moving thefingers inwardly and causing them to rotateabout and yieldingly engage with the wrapper. in and out movements ofthe wiping fingers are controlled by 'a ring having an inclined annularface 102 which engages with a series of rolls 103 journaled respectivelyadjacent the pivotal connection of each of the wiper fingers. Thiscontrolling ring is connected with a forked arm 105 having plungers 106at the outer ends which engage within an annular groove 108 formed inthe outer periphery of the ring. The forked arm 105 is pivoted upon themachine frame at 110 and is moved downwardly at a predetermined time tocause an inward movement of the wiper arms with a consequent wrappingoperation. In order to accomplish this automatic control the arm 66,which is connected to and operates the clutch 60, is provided with aspring pressed detent which is adapted to engage with the laterallyturned end of a bracket 116 mounted upon the forked arm 105, as shown inFig. 3. When the plunger carrying the lollypop has reached substantiallythe limit of its downward movement, bringing the latter intosubstantially the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, this springdetent 115 engaging with the bracket 116 yieldingly depresses the forkedarm 105 together withthe ring 100 causing an inward movement of thewiper arms which is sufficient in extent to bring these arms into theapproximate position shown in Fig. 8, in which position the wrapper iswound tightly about the handle the 'loose ends of the paper closelytherea ut.

To this end the Hit of the lollypop while this handle is firmly engagedby the holding clutch. After the pressure of the spring detent 115 uponthe bracket 116 has been relieved due to the upward movement of the arm,the centrifugal force of the wiper arms is sufiicient to elevate thecontrolling ring and the arms so that the wiper arms may move outwardlyto normal position. In order that there may be no possibility ofslipping the wrapper about the lollypop during the engagement of thewiper fingers with the upper portion, mechanism is provided forVieldiuo'lv engaging with the wrapper adjacent the upper portion of thebody of the lollvnou in a manner to hold the wrapper in place andprevent the wiper fingers from twisting or turning the wrapper upon thelollypop. To this end a plurality of wrapper engaging rolls,

as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 13, are disposed about thelollypop in a manner to engage with the wrapper during the wipingoperation. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention four feltrolls 220 are loosely journaled upon the upper ends of spring arms 222,the arms being connected at their lower ends to a plate 223 secured tothe stationary housings. It will be evident from an inspection of thedrawings that during the downward passage of the lollypop the supportingarms 222 yield outwardly and the felt rolls ride over the wrapper with ayielding engagement. During the action of the wiper fingers these rolls,through their engagement with the wrapper, hold it against the lollypopand prevent a bodily turning movement of the wrapper as a whole duringthe wiping operation.

After the plunger has reached the limit of its downward movement and thewiping of the wrapper about the handle has been substantially completed,the holding clutch 66 is automatically opened to discharge the iinishedlollypop through the central opening 117 formed in the revolvingsupport. To this end a knock-off projection 118 is mounted on the baseof the frame 51, as shown in Fig. 3, and engages with an arm 121projecting from the clutch dog 63 to open the clutch and discharge thelollypop as soon as the upward movement of the plunger and clutchcarried thereby commences. It will be observed that the knockoff member118 is so designed with relation to the handle 121 that the latter maymove by the knock-oil during the continued downward movement of theplunger. The vertical reciprocatory movements of the plunger 30 tocontrol the movements of the lollypop together with the feedingmechanism are accomplished by a crank 120 which is connected to a largegear 122 mounted in the base of the machine. The gear 122 is operatedfrom the main drive shaft 121 through a small drive pinion 125, thuscausing the reciprocatory movement of the plunger 30 to be relativelyslow. As observed from Fig. 3, this plunger is slidingly supported inbearings 126 and 128 forming a part of the machine frame. The rotarysupport carrying the wiper fingers is constantly rotated during theoperation of the machine at high speed by a driving belt 135 engagingwith a peripheral groove 136 in the support and driven from a drivepulley 138 which in turn is operated from the main drive shaft through alarge gear 140 and a small gear 142.

The paper or similar material which may be employed for wrapping thelollypops is conveniently fed automatically to the forming plate throughwhich the lollypops sucsessively pass. To this end the paper in the formof a roll 140 is loosely supported by a swinging arm 141 pivoted at itsupper end from a stationary table or part of the machine frame 146.

The paper or other wrapping material is drawn from the roll 140 by twosets of upper and lower feed rolls indicated at 150, 152, 156 and 158,respectively, these feed rolls being journaled in oppositely disposedbearing plates 160. The two sets of feed rolls acting in conjunctionserve to deliver the paper substantially to the position shown in Fig. 4where a predetermined length is severed by cutting shears. As shown inFigs. 9 and 10, the cutting mechanism comprises a stationary shear 162which cooperates with a movable shearing blade 163. The movable blade ispivoted at 164 and is normally retained in an inoperative position by aspring 165. The operation of this blade at predetermined intervals isaccomplished by a link 166 connecting theiblade with an operating arm167 which is pivoted to the machine frame at 168 and is adapted to beengaged at its opposite end by a projection 169 mounted upon theoperating plunger. As the plunger descends, the lug 169, through itsengagement with the free end of the operating arm 167, depresses thelink 166and the shearing blade 163 to sever the paper. After the passageof the lug 16'.) thereby. the arm 167 is returned to the position shownby a spring 170 and the shearing blade 163 is returned by the spring165. In order to permit the return of the arm 167 independently of thelink 166, the latter is provided upon its lower end with a head 172having an elongated slot 173 formed therein, wiich is normally engagedat its lower end by the arm 167 to depress the shearing blade 163 butwhich is designed to permit an upward movement of the arm 167 withoutcausing a like movement of the link 166 and the shearing blade connectedthereto. It will be obvious that with this construction the strip ofwrapping paper is automatically severed in predetermined lengths and intimed relation to the wrapping of the lollypop. In order to prevent thewrapping paper from being accidentally wound about the feed rolls,deflector members 175 and 176 are interposed in the space between thetwo sets of feed rolls and a guide member 178 is mounted back of themovable shearing blade 163 to guide the strip of paper across the edge 0the stationary lower blade 162. The feed rolls are intermittentlyoperated from a gear 180 mounted upon the shaft 24, this gear meshingwith a smaller gear 182 which carries a sprocket 184 operating a chain185 which drives smaller sprockets 186 and 187 connected respectivelywith the lower feed rolls 152 and 156.

It will be obvious that the above described construction constitutes anefficient and practical construction for wrapping lollypops and similararticles at a high rate of speed, the feeding and control of both thewrapping material and the articles to be wrapped being automatic and notrequiring the constant attention and supervision of a skilled operator.

1 claim 1. A. machine for wrapping candy supported upon a stickcomprising a vertically movable plunger, means for successivelydelivering candy to a position beneath the plunger and in timed relationto the movements of the plunger, a wrapping member having an openingthrough which the candy is forced by the downward movement of theplunger, means for delivering a sheet of wrapping material above thewrapping member, means for operating the plunger to force the candydownwardly through the 0 611111 in the wra in member and cause the sheetof wrapping material to be laid thereabout, and means for dischargingthe candy at the completion of the wrapping operation.

2. A machine for wrapping candy supported upon a stick comprising avertically movable plunger, means for successively delivering candy to aposition beneath the plunger and in timed relation-to the movements ofthe plunger, a wrapping member having an opening through which the candyis forced by the downward movement of the plunger, means for deliveringa sheet of wrapping material above the wrapping member, means foroperating the plunger to force the candy downwardly through the openingin the wrapping member and cause the sheet of wrapping material to belaid thereabout, and means located beneath the wrapping member anddesigned to engage the wrapper above the candy and to Wipe the wrapperabout the stick.

3. A machine for wrapping candy supported upon a stick which comprises avertically movable plunger designed to engage and retain the stick,means for delivering candy successively to a position beneath theplunger with the stick uppermost and in a position to be engaged therebyupon downward movement of the plunger, a wrapping member having anopening through which the candy is forced by the downward movement ofthe plunger, -means for delivering a sheet of Wrapping material toaposition above the. openlng, means for operating the plunger to forcethe candy downwardly through the opening to cause the sheet of wrappingmaterial to be laid thereabout, means locatedbeneath the wrapping memberfor wiping the sheet of wrapping material about the stick, and means forpreventing turning movements of the candy during the wiping operation.i. A lollypop wrapping machine comprising a vertically reciprocatingplunger adapted to engage the stick of the lollypop, means fordelivering lollypops successively to a position beneath the plunger,centering devices through which the plunger is adapted to pass forcentering the stick, a wrapping mechanism, and means for actuating theplunger to carry the lollypop through the wrapping mechanism.

5. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of wiper fingers, a wrapperforming plate, meansfor passing an article of candy supported upon astick successively through the wrapper forming plate and between thefingers, a support for the fingers, means for rotating the support insuch .a manner that the fingers are normally maintained in an outwardinoperative position, a roll mounted upon each finger, and a controllingdisk operated at the proper point oi motion of the candy through the machine for engaging the rolls on the wiper fingers to move the latterinwardly and wipe the wrapper about the stick.

6. A wrapping machine comprising a stationary wrapping disk adapted tofold a wrapper about articles of candy passed therethrough, and asupport within which the wrapping disk is detachably mounted, thesupport being adapted to move into a position in which the wrapping diskmay be readily removed therefro i A wrapping machine comprising awrapper forming plate through which an article of candy supported upon astick is.

caused to pass, a revolving support, a series of wiper fingers carriedby the support and normally adapted to remain in ouitward position, anda ring having an inclined face adapted to engage the wiper fingers afterthe passage of the candy therethrough to give a wrapping motion aboutthe stick.

8. A machine for wrapping an article of candy supported upon a stickcomprising a wrappingmechanism, means for feeding the candy to thewrapping mechanism,

yielding means for engaging the candy, flexible centering devices forengag ng the stick-preparatory to engagement with the feeding means, andmeans for discharging the candy after the wrapping operation.

9. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of wiper fingers; means forpassing an article of candy supported upon a stick between the fingers,means for causing the fingers to normally engage with the wrapper andwind it about the stick, centrifugal means for normally retaining thefingers in an inoperative position, and means for moving the fingersinto operative relation to Wind a wrapper about the stick at apredetermined point in the passage of the candy therebetween.

10. A wrapping machine comprising a, plurality of wiper fingers, meansfor revolving the fingers in a circular path, means for supporting thefingers in a manner to permit the fingers to normally move outwardlyunder the action of centrifugal force into an inoperative positionduring the revolving movement, and means acting automatically for movingthe fingers toward one another into an operative position at apredetermined point in the operation of the machine.

11. A wrapping machine comprising a stationary wrapper forming plate, aplurality of revolving wiper fingers located beneath the plate andnormally held in inoperative position by centrifugal force, means foradvancing candy supported upon a stick successively through the plateand between the fingers, and mechanism for automatically actuating thefingers in a manner to engage with and wipe the wrapper about the stickat a predetermined point in the passage of thecandy there-through.

12. A wrapping machine comprising flexible centering devices for anarticle of candy supported upon a stick, a stationary wrapper formingplate, and a plurality of revolving wiper fingers supported in alignmentwith the centering devices, means for advancing the candy in a straightline path substantially through the centering devices, wrapper formingplate and wiper fingers, and means for actuating the fingers to wipe awrapper about the stick at apredetermined point in the passage of thecandy therethrough.

13. A lollypop wrapping machine comprising a centering device havingyielding members for engaging the candy and flexible members forengaging the stick of the lollypop, a reciprocating plunger having meansor engaging the stick when centered, a wrapper forming plate, a seriesof wrapper fingers located beneath the wrapper forming plate adaptednormally to allow the passage of the candy therethrough in closeengagement with the stick to wipe the wrapper thereon, yielding meansfor holding the wrapper about the body of the candy during the wipingoperation, and means for discharging the candy after the wipingoperation.

14. A wrapping machine comprising a series of revolving wiper fingersadapted to engage with a wrapper laid about an article of candysupported on a stick, means for revolving the fingers, a reciprocatingplan er for advancing the candy through the fingers, and a plurality ofyieldingly mounted rolls for engaging with the Wrapper to preventturning movements of the candy during the wiping operation.

15. A wrapping machi-ne for wrapping articles of candy supported uponastick comprising a feeding plunger, clutch mechanism adapted to engageand hold the stick, means for automatically delivering candy into aposition to be engaged by the clutch member, centering means throughwhich the candy passes for centering the stick, and wrapping mechanismoperating in timed relation to the movements of the feeding plunger.

16. A machine for wrapping articles of candy supported upon a stickcomprising a wrapping member having an opening extending downwardlytherethrough, means for delivering a sheet of wrapping material to aposition above the opening in the wrapping member, revolving Wipermechanism located beneaththe opening in the wrapping member and alignedtherewith,mechanism for successively passing articles of candy supportedupon a stick downwardly through the opening to lay the wrap ing materialthereabout, the movements of the candy being in timed relation to thedelivery of the wrapping material and the operation of the revolvingwiper mechanism, means for retaining the candy against turning movementsduring the wiping operation, and means for discharging the candy at thecompletion of the operation.

17. A wrapping machine comprising centering devices, including aplurality of flexible disks of leather or similar material havingoverlying fingers separated from one another by flexible rings, andmeans for feeding articles of candy successively to the centeringdevices.

18. A wrapping machine comprising a link conveyor, centering devices,mechanism for operating the conveyor to feed articles of candysuccessively to the centering devices, wrapping mechanism, and means forfeeding articles of candy located by the centering devices through thewrapping mechanism.

19. A wrapping machine comprising a series of revolving wiper fingersadapted to engage with a wrapper laid about an article of candysupported upon a stick, means for revolving the fingers, mechanism forengaging and holding the stick, and a plurality of members yie'ldinglyengaging with the wrapper adjacent the body of the. candy to preventbodily turning movements of the candy during the wiping operation.

20. A machine for wrapping an article of candy supported upon a stickcomprising a conveyor for successively delivering such articles aflexible centering device through which the candy passes and adapted toengage the stick, a plurality of yielding fingers for engaging the bodyof the candy while the stick is centered, a reciprocating plunger havinga clutch for engaging the stick when centered and adapted to movedownwardly through the centering device, means for delivering wrappersbeneath the body of the candy, a plurality of wrapper fingers normallyretained in outward position to allow the candy to pass downwardlytherethrough, means acting in timed relation to the motion of the candyto close the wiper fingers about the stick to lay the wrapper thereon,and

means for discharging the stick from the 2 clutch after the wipingoperation.

FRED FORREST PEASE.

